Alpine Academy

Sex & Rape Charges

Alpine Academy in Utah had a teacher rape a student, beware of sending your kids there or they may get more than you are wanting.

A Kaysville man who worked as a resident supervisor at Alpine Academy in Erda near Tooele has been charged with raping one of the school’s female students.

Jonathan Carver, 29, was a house parent at the residential counseling program, called alpine academy which specializes in helping girls with behavioral or emotional issues. He was responsible for the daily tracking, well-being and safety of the 17-year-old victim, who lived at alpine academy for several months during 2008.

Carver began having sexual relations with the victim in October 2008, according to a probable cause statement. Most of the time the sex acts happened in alpine academy’s recreation room when no one was around. Other times they occurred in Carver’s bedroom or shower when his wife, who also lived at alpine academy, was away.

Carver also reportedly took advantage of the girl in a parking lot at the Salt Lake International Airport after dropping off several other girls who were flying home for visits. The victim was also scheduled to go home that day, but her flight was later than the others, the probable cause statement said.

After the victim completed the program at alpine academy and returned home, her father contacted authorities because he was concerned about the ongoing communication between Carver and his daughter, according to Alpine Academy program director Janet Mulitalo, who oversees all operations at the school. That’s when police initiated an investigation into possible criminal behavior.

During a police interview, the victim identified over 20 occasions in which Carver engaged in sexual intercourse with her. Carver allegedly asked the girl not to speak with law enforcement about the relationship, according to court documents.

Carver was charged with four counts of rape, two counts of forcible sodomy — all first-degree felonies — and tampering with a witness, a third-degree felony. During his first appearance Wednesday morning in 3rd District Court, he was appointed a public defender to represent him. Judge Stephen Henriod set bail at $100, 000, cash only.

The charges came as a shock to Alpine Academy officials, which employ strict rules to ensure the safety of the nearly 50 students in their care, Mulitalo said.

“It’s our policy that we hire them as a couple so they leave as a couple, ” Mulitalo said.

Carver and his wife began work at alpine academy in June 2008. Carver passed a background check, and regular supervision from administrative teams and monthly interviews conducted with students never gave any cause for concern, Mulitalo said.

Obviously the background checks didn't work. Please be aware of sending your kids to alpine academy, they may get more than you bargained for.

Comments

I went to Alpine Ademy in the year 2007. I just wanted to say Alpine Academy is NOT a bad place. It has helped me in many ways!! After I ready this news letter, I felt very upset!! No one should have to go throw what the young lady went throw!! But I belive that Alpine trys to pick out good house parents and that they really do want to see the kids get better and go out and be that great person they really are!! Yes they messd up by letting this man work out alpine!!! Trust me I am not saying thats okay or anything! But I stile beleave that Alpine can help other kids!! I also belive that Janet Mulitalo will do everything she can to make sure all the girls are safe and are getting the help they need to go out in to the world and be a great and healthy person!!! Thanks for readying my comment about Alpine Academy!!

First of all learn how to spell, and second of all, im sure being raped in the ass is supposed to help someone who already has emotional problems. We ALL know that YOU had PLENTY of problems at alpine Aurelia, because we had to live through ALL the bullshit and lies that you pulled, but being raped by Brett or Jason, would NOT have made your life any easier, just put it in perspective. And im not so sure it helped that much since your supposably mormon, pregnant, and single...

To say that a disturbed 17 year old girl is equally responsible for her being molested by an adult who is supposed to be looking out for her is the sickest most ass-backword thing I have heard in a long time. The person that wrote it should be ashamed of him/her self and is probably a molester themselves. Life in prison is about what is right for such an offense against that poor defenseless child and God. Unfortunatly Utah seems to take these things very lightly if you can go by similar cases in that county. It is disgraceful. I'd like a few minutes with little Jon Jon. He wouldn't be raping no more teenagers that's for sure.

There was MORE than one girl that was touched by the creepy Jon Carver at Alpine. Tha staff at Alpine are largely good dedicated people and it's a shame that a snake wriggled his way in. The young ladies at Alpine need help, not a predator. He is very lucky to be in the county where he is. The courts do not treat molesters seriously unless they are being watched closely. (which they are in this case.) A quick check of recent cases in that county are a disgrace. Around here the judges would be removed from the bench and the prosecutors would be working traffic court. That he was given such a low bail is a crime in itself.

so now you're saying Jon Carver deserves treatment? what happened to everyone who insisted he was an innocent man falsely accused by some delusional girl crying out for attention?

According to public records, Jon Carver appeared in court this week and pleaded guilty to 5 felony counts of forcible sexual abuse. Innocent people don't plead guilty to crimes they didn't commit. And anyone that knows Jon Carver knows he'd never go down without a fight . . . unless of course he knew they had more than enough evidence to convict him at a trial. This is serious stuff. Cops & Prosecutors don't just randomly arrest people for sex crimes without hard facts ... and people don't plead guilty to sex crimes unless they know they've been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

As for Dr. Emu's post, if he has real information about other girls who were abused by Jon Carver, he has a moral responsibility to report that to law enforcement. And for MKJC to argue that all the girls were interviewed and none reported any abuse is laughable. Victims of abuse routinely deny/hide out of fear, shame, guilt, etc. Very possible that one or more girls have come forward since those interviews or remain too scared to share their story.

Regardless of all the earlier posts & opinions, Jon Carver has now spoken and admitted to molesting at least one girl under his care. A very sad ending to a sad story.

people do make plea deals when they aren't guilty - it's a sad part of our system that is more concerned with numbers and punishment thatn justice.

you are definitely correct that doctorEmu should let someone know if there is anything they need to - but I do not beleive that is the case.

I also stand by my original statement that the allegations have not been proved, and the actual court documents do not show him admitting to all of the allegations. The crime he plead guilty to involves touching someone's butt or breasts, not sex. If any of it is true, as I said before, there has also been no evidence or claims that he forced anything, which is why I think treatment would be a reasonable conclusion, whereas if there was force or manipulation involved, then I'd me more likely to say incarceration was more appropriate.

omg mkjc, you are so in denial. I think you need therapy. I hate to call out anyone on this forum, but your initials (and opinions) are a dead give-away. Wake up. Jon didn't get railroaded or forced to admit to anything that didn't happen. Plea deals only work when the accused 'knows' there is a good chance he could be convicted of the more serious charge (rape). His atty worked out a deal to get the charges reduced ... and Jon took it because it was the best he could get.

You know that if he was innocent he would have gone to trial. There's no way he would ever admit to something he didn't do. As for 'forcing' it on the girl, you just don't get it, do you? He was a care giver and in a position of trust and responsibility. Jon was entrusted with her welfare and he used his position of influence to give this girl priviledges she hadn't properly earned in return for sex. Call it bribery, manipulation, control, force, whatever you want.

I know this is hard for you, but you should wake up and start holding the 'right' people responsible for this entire mess, namely Jon. He had the control and sadly he used it to sneak around and get sex from a young girl in treatment (not to mention committing adultery against his wife and daughter).

Nonnie Mouse, this is me LMAO at your ignorant rebuttal. You don't know the people involved and your opinion is meaningless. Either way, i don't give a d-a-m-n what you or anyone else who wants to suggest some conspiracy theory thinks might have happened.

Jon knows what happened and his guilty plea tells 90% of the story. And FWIW, Carver was never 'interrogated' ... at least not like you suggest. He refused to answer any questions and requested an attorney from the very beginning. I think it's you NonnieMouse who's been watching a little too many reruns of Law & Order.

Anyone that's ever met Jon Carver knows he truly believes he's the smartest guy in the room and can outwit and outfox everyone around him. Looks like he met his match.

DoctorEmu and ADad: there is absolutely no evidence of any similar allegations of misconduct or any sort of innapropriate touching for any other girl he has ever spent time with, at Alpine or elsewhere. If you were aware of any instances, why would the only information about that be on an annonymous board? It should be reported to someone to investigate so there can at least be a record ot the complaint. If your comments are valid concerns, it's your responsibility to report them. I still do not believe they are valid though.

I also disagree with the need for prison time. I've done a lot of research on the issue and do not see how, even if all of the allegations were true, it would be necessary in this case. The point of the justice system is to make society safer. Sending those who do not NEED to be in prison there is counterproductive to the purpose of creating safety. Those who spend unnecessary time in prison are more likely to re-offend than those who experience intermediate sanctions. As for the argument that no prison would show a lack of punishment - he already will have a life time record as a felon, will need to register as a sex offender (which means, for example, he can't go to a park ever with any of his children), and will also have other restrictions as imposed by the judge and/or his probation officer. That seems like a harsh enough punishment - besides the point that punishment is not the most effective way to change behavior.

ADad,
It appears you are setting yourself up for a nice lawsuit of the Alpine Academy. How much do you expect to get? Is this why you are hoping this man never sees his family or is it your own bitter revenge?

I know the complete truth about what happened - I am 100% confident of that. I'm sorry for whatever it is your daughter is saying she went through and honestly do hope the best for her and your family - but whatever it is she's dealing with, it had absolutely nothing to do with Jon. He is not a creep, molester, rapist, etc. and his daughter is lucky to have him as her father; he's a good person who would never abuse anyone.

You're right that Alpine is an absolutely amazing school that has and will continue to help so many young girls; I'm confident your daughter will be able to get the help she needs there and that the truth will come out eventually.

it's sad that some on here are so selfish as to trivialize what actually happened by reducing this comment section to some personal agenda. NonnieMouse, i don't know what your connection to this story is, but unless you have a personal interest in Alpine Academy or the people involved, your comments are truly unwanted.

Your comments are insensitive, factually inaccurate and completely boring. If you have a personal agenda with ADad or anyone else on this board, take it somewhere else.

Jon Carver will be sentenced on Oct. 6th. I've read all the comments here and on SLTrib and other news sites. Family members and friends of Jon Carver continue wanting to believe that his actions were merely inappropriate, not criminal. His wife Misty (mkjc) insists that the only thing Jon admitted to was 'touching the victim's butt'.

Misty, et al, what you need to realize is at the sentencing hearing, the Judge will consider ALL the evidence that the Prosecution gathered in their investigation. He will listen to statements from Jon Carver, the victim, and immediate family members from both sides. The Judge will determine the appropriate sentence based on ALL of these factors. You're argument that Jon didn't have intercourse and perform acts of sodomy on the minor victim holds no water. Jon's attorney deposed the victim himself and he concluded her testimony was too convincing (translated to be "truthful and believeable by any jury'). That's why Jon-boy copped a plea deal ... because his attorney told him he'd lose a jury trial.

So, keep on writing whatever you wish here and on other news sites. The justice system will reconvene on Oct. 6th and Jon Carver will receive his sentence. House arrest or counseling ... think again. He's going to prison.

it the gent and the young lady were attracted to each other to engage sexually on so many occasions then whether or not you you think one is taking advantage of the other is nobodies business.
both benefited from the laison, rape is not an issue and the stupid sexual laws are only attributable to persons, not men and women, get your stupid kelptocratric statutes away from the lives of what may be a couple enjoying each others company.
do not be so ego neurotically judgemental

suggested readings at the "Office of the Person", understand all laws are not as what you think.
Only Gods Laws are attributable to men and woman.
Statutes are for persons, you are either a man and a woman or you are a person, learn the difference and you will stop being total idiots

I don't know anyone involved in this case but I felt I had to comment on those posters who say the girl "seduced" the accused or that the sex was consensual or that she couldn't have been raped because it happened more than once and she did not report it. Are you guys freaking CRAZY?!? If she "seduced" the accused then that implies she had more power, control and authority than the male adult who was in a position of authority over her. It also implies that the 17 year old was some kind of predator who took advantage of this man, a GROWN ADULT.

Moving on the the comment that she couldn't have been raped since it happened many times and she did not report it. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) "sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes, with 60% still being left unreported according to a statistical average of the past 5 years." I don't think anyone who has not experienced a sexual assault can speculate on a victims motives for waiting to report a crime. I also think it inappropriate to say that the number of times she was abused equates to consent. Shame, fear and guilt could easily explain why she waited and how it continued for an extended period of time.

To be clear, I don't know if he's guilty or not, but even if the sex was consensual it's STILL illegal and morally wrong on SO many different levels.

Sure everyone has there point of view. Let me tell you though I graduated from Alpine Feb. 2009, and knew the girl and also Jon. This story goes both ways, yes he was in the wrong because of his position at Alpine and of course his age, but also the 17 year-old girl is in the wrong as well. I say this because yes it is rape because of age difference she also consented to it. To be honest I liked the girl a lot but knowing that I was a house away from the guy and them disgusted me. Alpine is not a bad place but i would not recommend it just for the soul fact that it does not help everyone with all their problems. All Alpine did for me was make me view things a little differently that's it, other than that people can bullshit there way through there if they really wanted to. So for parents of troubled girls think twice about sending them for you could be wasting your money on a program that can easily be cheated by anyone who can work it.